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Breaking the Walled Garden: RCS 4.0 to Enable Native iPhone-Android Video Calls
The Verge (Google) March 30, 2026
The GSMA has finalized a new RCS standard that will finally allow iPhone and Android users to initiate and join video calls natively within their messaging apps. This move effectively erodes one of the last major functional barriers between the two ecosystems, potentially shifting the competitive landscape for device loyalty.
Key Intelligence
- •Did you hear that the green vs. blue bubble war is losing its biggest weapon? New RCS standards will soon allow native video calls between iPhones and Androids.
- •Apparently, the feature is called 'Messaging-Initiated Video Calls' (MIVC) and will be part of the RCS Universal Profile 4.0 update.
- •The new standard allows users to join ongoing group video calls even if they missed the initial notification, a feature long enjoyed by FaceTime users.
- •It will automatically synchronize video call logs directly within the chat timeline, making the experience feel integrated rather than like a separate app.
- •While the standard is finalized, it still requires Apple and Google to implement the specific 4.0 profile in future software updates before it hits your phone.
- •This shift is a massive win for interoperability, likely reducing the 'social tax' of switching phone platforms for families and professional teams.
- •Industry analysts see this as a continuation of regulatory and market pressure forcing big tech to dismantle proprietary 'walled gardens' in favor of open communication.